The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered will be released on January 19, exclusively for PS5.
Pros ✅ Improved version of the top-tier game ✅ No Return roguelike mode is tough and enjoyable ✅ Provides extra content ✅It only costs $10 to upgrade from PS4. | Cons ❌ The Lost Levels are all very brief |
While not free of controversy, The Last of Us Part 2 was met with near-universal critical acclaim upon its initial release in 2020. Due to backward compatibility allowing the original Last of Us 2 to be easily played on PS5 and performing exceptionally well on PS4, some may question the necessity of remastering The Last of Us Part 2.
The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered does not offer a revolutionary advancement, but it does offer enough compelling content to justify the $10 price increase.
The narrative of The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered is precisely as devastating and utterly captivating as that of the original installment. Although individuals who have already been emotionally depleted by Ellie’s bloodthirsty vengeance may not feel the necessity to relive the entire emotionally taxing game, that does not constitute the primary selling point of the remaster.
The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered Features
The fact that The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered features DualSense support and marginally improved visuals is a plus, but the true allure of the game lies in the additional content that Naughty Dog threw into the mix, such as the Lost Levels.
The Last of Us 2 Remastered provides three “Lost Levels” not included in the original release that are now available to franchise enthusiasts. Although these stages are temporary and incomplete, they offer a captivating glimpse into the production’s backstage. Every level is accompanied by an introductory segment featuring developer commentary, which is optional and is provided by the game director, Neil Druckmann.
Simply put, the first stage takes place near the start of The Last of Us 2 and depicts Ellie strolling to a party. A race to Ellie’s destination could conclude the activity in a matter of seconds. Still, players who take the time to explore the area will discover carnival-themed minigames and an interactive face painter.
A little more action-packed occurs on the second level, where Ellie is carried into the Seattle sewer system. There are several dangers Ellie must surmount, as well as one particularly tense moment that we shall not reveal here.
Ellie tracks a swine to an abandoned store on the third level, where players are tasked with destroying it. Although all three levels are fascinating, especially to ardent Last of Us enthusiasts, it would be slightly dishonest to refer to them as “levels” when they are not, in fact, that much action.
Those who only intended to play the Lost Levels of The Last of Us 2 Remastered may consider upgrading to The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered for an additional $10. However, it should be noted that these stages are only a tiny portion of the overall experience.
The Last of Us Part 2’s No Return mode is the best part of the Remastered package.
The most significant feature of The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered is the roguelike mode, No Return. Playing as Ellie, Abby, Joel, Tommy, Dina, and a handful of other prominent Last of Us characters in No Return is ideal for those who want to experience The Last of Us 2’s brutal combat in a short amount of time without having to return to the story mode.
Players must complete a variety of stages based on locales explored in the story mode of The Last of Us 2, battling perilous human foes, Clickers, and other infected. Although death necessitates a fresh start, the game lavishes players with unlockables to ensure that runs are never in vain.
Players are instantly presented with objectives to pursue and obstacles to overcome in order to gain access to new playable characters. As one progresses through No Return, additional features such as encounter varieties and gimmicks are progressively introduced.
This enriches the experience and provides players with more to engage in beyond the mere objective of surviving each stage. For instance, Dead Drops require players to return items to the hideout in exchange for a reward, whereas Gambits challenges them to eliminate foes in particular methods for upgrading materials.
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Players visit their hideout between rounds to purchase new equipment and enhance their firearms. Players devise their subsequent strategy while in the hideout, selecting from a variety of stages along a branching path that culminates in a final confrontation with a formidable foe. In No Return, boss confrontations can be extremely terrifying, and the peril of permadeath heightens the stakes.
No Return is a difficult, rewarding, and difficult-to-set-down book. The justification for the $10 upgrade fee to The Last of Us 2 Remastered on PS5 could have been established on its own, but the game offers much more.
Although the graphics were already state-of-the-art and the PS5’s hardware doesn’t appear to have significantly improved them, The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered is still a significantly more fluid experience than its PS4 equivalent.
Furthermore, the adaptive triggers and haptic feedback of the DualSense contribute to the player’s immersion by deftly adding weight to basic actions such as reloading a gun and melee attacks. The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered also includes a number of new game modes and features, including the Guitar Free Play mode, the Speedrun option in the story mode, and a generous assortment of unlockable costumes and filters. A substantial amount of content is included in The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, which is an absolute bargain at $10.
The Final Words
The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered is an already exceptional game that is more comprehensive in scope and features. For those who have not yet played the original PS4 game, No Return is an unmistakable must-have and more than justifies the $10 upgrade. Although the graphics have yet to be significantly improved, as some may have hoped, and The Lost Levels are a bit of a letdown, this is still the definitive method to experience Naughty Dog’s masterpiece.